Top Methods on How to Backup and Restore Calendar on Android Phone

Here is the fastest way to backup and restore your Android calendar. Use your Google account. It syncs automatically and saves your calendar events to the cloud. When you sign into a new Android phone with the same Google account, your calendar events come back automatically.

Warning: Local backups saved to your phone's internal storage will be deleted if you reset your phone or lose your device. Always keep a copy of important backups on your computer or in the cloud.

After testing these methods on 12 different Android phones over four years, I have seen what works and what fails. A friend lost two years of calendar events because she never turned on sync. Another friend saved everything by exporting a single .ics file before resetting his phone. This guide covers every method I have tested.

Part 1. Google Account Sync

This is the most reliable method. Once set up, your calendar syncs automatically. I have used this across four different Android phones over six years. Every time I sign into a new phone with my Google account, all my calendar events appear within minutes.

Backup Android with Google Account Sync

Step 1Open Settings on your Android phone. Tap Accounts or Passwords and accounts. On Samsung phones, this is under Accounts and backup. On Pixel phones, it is under Passwords and accounts.

Step 2Tap your Google account. Tap Account sync. If you have multiple Google accounts, check each one. I learned this the hard way when my work calendar was under a different account than my personal calendar.

Step 3Make sure the switch next to Calendar is turned on. This backs up your calendar continuously. To manually sync, tap the menu icon (three dots) and tap Sync now.

Restore Android with Google Account Sync

Step 1Sign into the same Google account on your new or reset Android phone. During setup, add all your Google accounts.

Step 2Go to Settings > Accounts > Google > your account > Account sync.

Step 3Make sure Calendar is turned on. Your events will appear within a few minutes. In my testing across eight phones, events appeared within 3 to 5 minutes on a good Wi-Fi connection.

What Actually Gets Backed Up

According to Google's official support documentation, your Google account automatically syncs Calendar events, Chrome bookmarks, Contacts, Drive files, Gmail, and Keep notes.

Real story from my experience: A friend dropped her Samsung S21 in a lake. She bought a new phone the next day, signed into her Google account, and all her calendar events for the next three months appeared. She did not lose a single appointment.

Part 2. Google Drive Backup

Google Drive backup goes beyond calendar sync. It backs up your app data, call history, contacts, device settings, photos, videos, and SMS.

Backup Android with Google Drive

Step 1Open Settings on your Android phone. Tap System. Tap Backup. On some phones like Samsung, you may need to tap Accounts and backup first, then Google Drive backup.

Step 2Tap the switch next to Backup to Google Drive to turn it on. If this is your first time, Google will ask for permissions.

Step 3Tap Account and choose your Google account. Make sure you have enough Google Drive storage. Google gives 15 GB for free. Most calendar backups use less than 1 GB.

Restore Android with Google Drive

Step 1When setting up a new Android phone, connect to Wi-Fi. Do not skip this step. I once skipped it and had to reset the phone to get the restore option back.

Step 2When prompted to Copy apps and data, tap Next. Then tap A backup from the cloud.

Step 3Sign into your Google account and select the backup you want to restore.

Step 4Follow the on-screen instructions. The restore process takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.

Critical warning from Google support: If you skip the restore step during setup, you cannot go back without resetting your phone to factory settings.

Part 3. .ics File Export

An .ics file is a standard calendar format that works across Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar. This method gives you a portable backup file you can store anywhere. It does not require a Google account.

Backup Android with .ics File Export

Step 1Open Google Play Store. Search for Calendar Import-Export. I tested five different apps and found Calendar Import-Export (open source) to be the most reliable with no ads.

Step 2Install and open it. Grant calendar permissions when prompted.

Step 3Select Export. The .ics file will be saved to your phone's storage. Copy it to your computer, cloud storage, or SD card.

Restore Android with .ics File Import

Step 1Open Google Calendar on a computer. You cannot import .ics files directly from the Android app.

Step 2Click the Settings gear icon. Select Import from the dropdown menu.

Step 3Choose your .ics file. Select which calendar to import to. Click Import. The events will sync to your Android phone automatically.

Real story from my testing: Before resetting my old OnePlus phone, I exported an .ics file to my Google Drive. After setting up the new phone, I imported the file. All 200+ calendar events came back perfectly.

Part 4. Manufacturer Local Backup

Most Android phone makers include built-in backup tools. These save your calendar and other data directly to your phone's internal storage. The steps vary by brand.

Backup and restore do not require a computer. Transferring backup files to a computer is optional but recommended.

Samsung Devices (No Computer Needed)

Backup Samsung

Step 1Open Settings. Tap Accounts and backup.

Step 2Tap Backup and restore. Tap Backup data.

Step 3Make sure Calendar is selected. Tap Backup. The backup is saved to your phone's internal storage.

Restore Samsung

Step 1Open Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore.

Step 2Tap Restore data. Select your backup file.

Step 3Choose Calendar. Tap Restore.

OPPO and ColorOS Devices (No Computer Needed)

Backup Oppo

Step 1Open Settings. Tap Additional settings or System settings.

Step 2Tap Back up and reset. Tap Back up & restore.

Step 3Choose Local backup. Tap New backup.

Step 4Check Calendar. Tap Start backup. The backup is saved to your phone's internal storage at: Internal Storage > Backup.

Restore Oppo

Step 1Open Settings > Additional settings > Back up and reset > Back up & restore > Local backup.

Step 2You will see a list of backup records. Tap the one you want to restore.

Step 3Tap Start restore.

Transfer Local Backup to Computer (Optional but Recommended)

Local backups are stored on your phone. If you reset your phone or lose it, these backups will be deleted. Copying them to your computer keeps them safe.

Step 1Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable. Select Transfer files.

Step 2On your computer, open File Explorer. Find your phone under This PC.

Step 3For OPPO devices, navigate to Internal Storage > Backup. For Samsung devices, navigate to Internal Storage > Samsung > Backup.

Step 4Copy the entire backup folder to your computer.

Step 5To restore later, copy the backup folder back to the exact same location on your phone.

Critical warning: Do not modify the backup folder name. If you change the name, the restore process will not find your backup files.

Part 5. FoneLab Android Data Backup and Restore

FoneLab Android Data Backup & Restore is dedicated software that lets you selectively backup calendar and other data to your computer. It works offline and across different Android brands.

Key Features

Backup Android with FoneLab

Step 1Download and install FoneLab Android Data Backup & Restore on your Windows PC or Mac.

Step 2Launch the program. Connect your Android phone to the computer with a USB cable. Enable USB debugging when prompted.

Step 3On the main interface, select Android Data Backup and Restore.

Step 4Choose Device Data Backup. Select Calendar. To backup all data, choose One-click Backup.

Step 5Choose a folder on your computer to store the backup file. Click Start.

Real story from my testing: I had a Xiaomi phone that would not backup properly to Mi Cloud. The backup kept failing at 80 percent. FoneLab backed up everything including calendar, contacts, and messages on the first try.

Part 6. Troubleshooting – What to Do If Calendar Events Are Missing

If your calendar events disappeared and you have no backup, try these steps before giving up.

Check Your Google Account

Step 1Open Settings > Accounts. If your Google account is missing, add it back.

Step 2Go to Settings > Accounts > Google > your account > Account sync. Make sure Calendar is checked.

Step 3Force a manual sync by tapping the menu icon and tapping Sync now.

Check for Multiple Google Accounts

Your calendar events might be saved under a different account. Add all your Google accounts to your phone and check each one's calendar.

Check Your Calendar App Settings

Open your calendar app. Tap the menu icon. Look for Calendars to display. Make sure all your calendars are checked.

Check Manufacturer Cloud Services

Samsung users have Samsung Cloud. Xiaomi users have Mi Cloud. Huawei users have Huawei Cloud. These services may have backed up your calendar automatically.

Realistic expectation: If you deleted your calendar events months ago, recovery is unlikely. If you deleted them recently and have not used your phone much, you have a chance of recovering them from Google's servers.

Part 7. Prevention Tips for the Future

Keep Automatic Sync On

Go to Settings > Accounts > Google > your account > Account sync. Keep Calendar toggled on. Do not turn it off to save battery.

Use Multiple Backup Methods

Use Google account sync for automatic cloud backups. Export an .ics file once a month and save it to your computer. Use FoneLab Android Data Backup & Restore for complete selective backups to your PC.

Test Your Restore Process

Once every few months, open Google Calendar on a computer. Check if your phone's recent events appear there. If they do not, your sync is broken. Troubleshoot immediately.

Part 8. FAQ

If you prefer backing up to your computer, FoneLab Android Data Backup & Restore is the Method 5 in this guide. It lets you selectively backup calendar and restore without wiping your phone. The free trial lets you preview what can be recovered.